There were a lot of rumors buzzing around about Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings during the NFL offseason.
In the end, Minnesota opted not to sign the former Jets quarterback, instead choosing to move forward with second-year player JJ McCarthy.
As Rodgers made his way to the Steelers, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell took a moment to reflect on his offseason chats with the 41-year-old likely Hall of Famer.
“Aaron and I go way back; he lived in San Diego when I was playing in the NFL. We worked out together during the offseason. We’ve built a friendship and some trust over time, and we kept in touch throughout the season,” O’Connell shared on KFAN1003.
“When we talked, I was open about my feelings for JJ. We had a lot of good discussions about our future— not just what’s happening with the Vikings right now, but the bigger picture.”
O’Connell added that while they communicated frequently, he was aware of Rodgers’ stature in the game. “This is a Hall of Fame player we’re talking about. It gets a lot of attention and respect, which I think is important in today’s media landscape,” he noted.
Last season, the Vikings had a solid run with Sam Darnold at quarterback, finishing 14-3, although they faced a tough loss in the wildcard round against the Rams, 27-9.
Darnold has now gone to the Seahawks, leaving behind a substantial contract. This has left the Vikings pondering whether to pursue free agents like Rodgers or stick with McCarthy.
Ultimately, they decided to commit to their No. 10 overall pick from 2024, despite him missing last season due to a knee injury.
On Thursday, Rodgers came to an agreement on a one-year deal with the Steelers, though it’s still pending finalization.
He arrived in Pittsburgh over the weekend, preparing to sign his contract and get ready for the mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, according to reports.
